The Predicament (The Proposition #3.5) Read Online Free PDF Page A

through her chest.
    “Tell him I’m on my way home,” she blurted.
    Aidan’s brows rose, but he didn’t question her. “She’s coming home.” Once again, he bobbed his head. “Yeah, I’ll make sure she gets to the car okay.”
    Tears stung Casey’s eyes when she thought of how concerned Nate was for her. God, she loved that man with all her heart and soul. The last thing in the world she ever wanted to do was hurt him. Humiliation once again stung her at the way she had overreacted. Man, she could sure manage to fuck up a situation, couldn’t she?”
    As soon as Aidan hung up the phone, it dinged signaling a text. After glancing at it, he said, “That’s Em. She’s on the way home. You sure you don’t want to wait for her?”
    Casey shook her head. “I need to get to Nate—to make this right.”
    Aidan patted her shoulder. “It wasn’t ever a wrong, Case.”
    “If you say so.”
    “I know so. But I’m glad you’re going home. Nate sounded pretty desperate.”
    “God, I was such a heartless bitch to run out on him like that,” she lamented.
    “You were just doing what you thought was best in the moment. If you had stayed, you might’ve said something you would have regretted.”
    Casey stared at Aidan in surprise as she weighed his words. After shaking her head, she questioned, “Whenever did you get so wise, douchenozzle?”
    He laughed. “Becoming a husband and father was the jumpstart to maturity I desperately needed.”
    She reached out and patted his cheek. “It looks and sounds really good on you.”
    “Thanks. That means a lot coming from you.”
    “You’re welcome. And thanks for listening to me.”
    “Anytime.” With a wink, he added, “But if it’s all the same, I really hope Emma’s home the next time you have a crisis.”
    Casey snickered. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
    Picking up the baby monitor, he then proceeded to walk her out to the car just as he had promised Nate. He went as far as to open the car door and shut it back. She waved at him before cranking up. As she backed down the driveway, she thought how lucky Emma was to have Aidan. What had started out as a proposition had turned into so much more.
    Although there were a million things she wanted to say to Nate, she didn’t pick up the phone. What she needed to say should be said in person. When she pulled into the garage, Nate stood waiting for her in the doorway. He’d thrown on a pair of boxer shorts, but besides that, he was exactly as she had left him.
    From his body language, she could tell he wanted nothing more than to bound out to the car and take her into his arms, but he wouldn’t let himself. He was giving her the space he thought she needed. Just when she thought she couldn’t love him more, she did.
    She flung open the car door and sprinted to his side. For the second time that night, she threw herself into his arms. “I’m sorry. I’m so fucking sorry,” she murmured against his neck.
    He rubbed comforting circles over her back. “You don’t have to apologize.
    “Yes, I do. I acted like a crazy shrew.”
    Nate’s chest rumbled with a good-natured chuckle. “You had your reasons.”
    “Not good ones.”
    He brought his hands to her shoulders and gently eased her back. Staring into her eyes, he smiled. “Let’s don’t play the blame game anymore, okay? It’s late, and we both need rest. Let’s spend the time we have working things out about about what happened earlier.”
    Casey groaned. “Why do you have to be so good at communication?”
    “Just one of my many gifts,” he teased.
    As he started to pull her into the house, she stopped him. When his brows rose in surprise, she said, “I love you, Nate. More than I can ever say or show you.”
    A pleased expression flooded his face. “I love you, too, babe.” He then wrapped an arm around her shoulder and guided her into the house.

The next morning before work Casey found herself pulling into the parking lot of her favorite